Soho

Chapter 84: < Protect – Episode 83 – Scandal [3] >

Following the Geneva Treaty, the superiority regarding wars and humanity was commonly predicted to be the cause of progression, but human brutality was only getting worse. Faster and more explosive weapons only lead to bigger massacres.

Cutting someone’s legs and arms off wasn’t the only brutal act. The most brutal thing was the killing fields where people have no idea how people died. After the bombing of Hiroshima, wars were redefined and small deaths didn’t matter anymore.

It was probably possible to sympathize for a short moment. And it was also possible to commemorate their deaths every year and shed a tear and say a prayer. It was good to see people get back up after experiencing hardship, but by the time a month had gone by, most people would just forget.

Thanks to the information of the 21st century, they encountered shocking cases every moment of the day. And by the next day, worse things would await. No person was free from the barbarism that tested human limitations.

- This just in! Hwang Min Wook’s List and the sex tape have been leaked!

- Shocking news! He conspired a murder to hide his adultery!

- Exclusive! 20 years as a person born out of wedlock! ‘I don’t have a father!’

- Urgent news! Corruption regarding military, tax evasion, and real estate! Korea is full of corruption!

- In-depth coverage! Is there really no solution to the injustice in our society? Asking all scholars!

The more they revealed, the more advantageous it was for Ahn Soo Ho. The establishments including the politicians who didn’t fully believed his identity didn’t know who they were going up against. Alexa, Kosino, and the information team started to actively engage both on and offline.

“Should we set up an intercom?”

“Isn’t that illegal in Korea?”

“There’s always a way around it.”

Intercoms weren’t computers made by Intel, but a detective agency on the side of the intelligence company. The detective agencies abroad weren’t like Korea where they took on small jobs. They consisted of former agents, police, and soldiers, and they needed a separate license.

In Korea, private detective work was illegal. Then what were detective agencies? They were just called that when they actually just did document work and things related to law.

Ahn Soo Ho got briefed by Alexa and Kosino.

“They’re making Soo Ho and Soo Ho’s family a bigger issue.”

“Did you find the origin?”

“They’re mostly detective agencies.”

“Did you tail them?”

“If you catch them and teach them a lesson, they usually give up.”

Punks who do illegal things don’t go to the police just because they got beat up a little.

“It’ll get complicated if we get mixed up with a gang. Be careful.”

“We’re experts. Do you think we would actually get caught by a Korean gang?”

“Didn’t you say the same thing in Turkmenistan two years ago?”

“Ugh!”

Alexa frowned but she didn’t have anything to say because it was true.

“Don’t let your guard down.”

“Okay, okay.”

She ran away with her ears covered as if she had enough of his nagging. Ahn Soo Ho looked back at Kosino.

“How much has been revealed so far?”

“That your parents got divorced and that your father has other children?”

The fact that Ahn Soo Ho and Lee Jung Hoon had different fathers was a secret that they were not really trying to hide.

“Did Lee Hyo Geun take the mound again?”

“There are a few who are lurking around, but due to his past record, he’s being careful.”

Lee Hyo Geun was once on TV and got charged for defamation and spreading false information. Koreans had a lot of interest in other people’s affairs. They tended to get a lot of comfort from the unfortunate circumstances of others. Seeing how Lee So Hye was being optimistic and cheerful despite what other kids said about her, she was praiseworthy.

“I hope she’s not getting bullied.”

“You always say that... But she’s a strong girl despite being young.”

Ahn Soo Ho smacked his lips at Kosino’s sigh and response.

“Be understanding, Kosino. She’s like my daughter.”

“I understand.”

He really did understand.

The way Ahn Soo Ho looked at Lee So Hye was different from how he looked at Alexa and Kosino. On the outside, it didn’t seem like they were close at all. In contrast to Alexa’s warm personality, Kosino was rougher around the edges. But Ahn Soo Ho knew how much she cared for his colleagues.

Kosino, who was half Japanese and half Filipino, went through ups and downs, but so did Alexa. After the Soviet Union’s collapse, the North Europeans struggled to not drown in the democratic waves. Alexa was not very different from how she was over ten years ago.

“Did you meet with Kumiko?”

“Yes.”

“You think it’s weird too, right?”

Kosino didn’t say anything, but his silence said it all. Due to the terror that ensued Tokyo, the G7 Summit was canceled, and Japan endured international humiliation. They began investigations to find the terrorist while some of the media blamed China, which angered the citizens of both nations.

As soon as China expressed its complaint by summoning its ambassador, Japan also summoned theirs. The ones who were suffering due to their battle were the companies of both countries who were tangled up in the mess.

“When someone suffers a loss, other gains.”

“Do you think those with power participated, Soo Ho?”

“We’ll find out once we conduct our investigation. Any announcements yet?”

“No, Sir.”

Terrorist organizations didn’t commit an attack and then hide that they were responsible. Seeing how no one came forward after a few days, this was done by a 3rd party with power who couldn’t let anyone find out who they were.

Kosino changed the subject.

“The courthouse where Han Chae Kyung’s trial will take place in Milan.”

“Not Rome? Why are they handling a foreigner’s case outside the city?”

“From what I heard from Alfredo Hatchmen’s side...it seems like they’re trying to set an example.”

Alfredo Hatchmen was an investigation agency located in Switzerland and Italy.

“It appears that the soccer player that died was trying to be a whistle-blower.”

“Whistle-blower? Didn’t you say he was a scumbag?”

“Just because he loved parties and women doesn’t mean he didn’t love soccer.”

Both men and women loved soccer in Europe.

“Then is the gambling broker the culprit?”

“We’re not sure yet.”

“How much do you trust them?”

“Alfredo Hatchmen is a reputable company.”

The European intercoms that Ahn Soo Ho remembered were mostly in England, France, or the Netherlands. Switzerland was mainly known for finance, and Italy was heavily controlled by mafias.

But Italian mafias were hard to find nowadays.

During the Balkan conflict, many refugees went to Italy and settled down in the northern region. In order to protect themselves, the refugees of Switzerland, France, and Italy established a civil militia, which turned into criminal organizations.

“Employ another and confirm your findings.”

“I’ll trust it with Aegis.”

“Good.”

Aegis was an information agency in England.

Ahn Soo Ho left the office with Kosino and went their separate ways. There was a server room for Alexa and Kosino on the top floor of Star Tower. He got tired after receiving all the greetings while he waited for the lift. Kids these days tended to ask for selfies, and in the entertainment field, the average age was quite young. Even Oh Jo Kyung was still in her 20s.

Ahn Soo Ho visited Hosoo Entertainment Academy.

Emily and Rachel adjusted better than he expected. There was a separate dorm for trainees who came from far away, but Ahn Soo Ho let them stay with Lee So Hye at home. Due to their connections, the ones who evaluated them were very careful.

“Are they doing well?”

“Yes. We’re expecting big things.”

In contrast to Ahn Da Sol who also trained under Shim Il Kwon, Emily and Rachel were solely under Kim Yoo Seon’s care.

“You can’t treat foreigners like Koreans. You know that, right?”

“Yes. I’ve told the other trainers as well.”

After the open audition, they got a lot more foreigners. There were multiple cases of misunderstandings due to the difference in language and culture. Ahn Soo Ho, who was secretly watching Emily and Rachel practicing, clapped as soon as they went on break.

“Huh? Soo Ho.”

“Soo Ho.”

The two foreigners who were more comfortable with informal speech sprung up as soon as they saw Ahn Soo Ho.

“When did you get here?”

“Just now.”

“Buy us food.”

“That’s no way to greet someone.”

“They all say this to superiors, especially male superiors.”

He was proud that they tried to speak Korean despite their lack of fluency. But he was mad at whoever taught them this rude phrase.

“You probably don’t need to diet.”

Ahn Soo Ho scanned them up and down.

They had the faces and bodies that would stir up the media. With their distinct facial characteristics, they could express a lot of emotions with their face.

“Ugh, exercising is hard.”

“Yeah. Squats are especially hard. I’d rather do yoga.”

The employees looked restless seeing them use both formal and informal speech with Ahn Soo Ho. There were those who asked him for selfies and numerous employees who were familiar with the ranks of Korean society. But the way Emily and Rachel asked him for food was not common.

“How were your first few days as a trainee?”

“There are a lot of inconveniences, but we can’t just lay out the disadvantages from our standpoint.”

“Yeah. But the uncivilized customs should be eliminated.”

“Uncivilized customs?”

When Ahn Soo Ho tilted his head, a female trainer explained further.

“They’re talking about how we measure their bodies every week, CEO Ahn.”

“Oh.”

“We measure them every single week. Since they have great bodies, to begin with, it’s not really needed, but it’s regulation...”

When he nodded in understanding, an unwelcomed guest butted in. When Kumiko, also known as Ahn Da Sol heard Ahn Soo Ho was at the academy, she sprinted over. Ahn Soo Ho didn’t know, but there was a strange vibe around Ahn Da Sol, Emily, and Rachel.

Ahn Da Sol, who’s backed up by Shim Il Kwon.

Emily and Rachel, who were backed up by Kim Yoo Seon.

They ended up in a power battle.

‘This is interesting.’

In Hosoo Entertainment, Shim Il Kwon, who worked with top actors and singers had the upper hand. Even if Oh Joo Kyung and Kim Woo Jung backed up Kim Yoo Seon, the baton would go to whoever worked with the most popular celebrities. Jang Seol Hyun hated Shim Il Kwon, but she didn’t doubt his skills.

“What are you doing here?”

“Buy me food.”

The Korean teacher was the enemy of returning students. Ahn Soo Ho smirked and then put his hand on Ahn Da Sol’s head.

“Okay. You should eat more.”

“Gasp!”

Ahn Da Sol was good at acting, singing, and dancing, but she was lacking in one thing.

“It’s not about size, but resilience, Uncle.”

In response, Ahn Soo Ho clicked his tongue and shook his finger.

“Tsk, tsk!”

The lingerie technology of Korea was the best in the world. Seeing it and touching it still couldn’t predict what it actually was. That was until they take it off. Making A into C and C into E was just like magic.

Not even the great, great magician could do it.

“Stop squishing them together, everyone.”

Were all the women in the world magicians?

< Protect – Episode 83 – Scandal [3] > The end.